Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad is a novella that explores themes of imperialism, human nature, and the darkness within civilization. The story is narrated by Marlow, a seaman who recounts his journey into the Congo River Basin, where he is sent to retrieve Kurtz, an ivory trader who has gone rogue.
Marlow, hired by a European trading company, travels through the African jungle and witnesses the brutal exploitation of the native people under European colonial rule. As he journeys deeper into the wilderness, he hears about Kurtz, a charismatic but enigmatic figure who has become both feared and revered.
When Marlow finally meets Kurtz, he discovers that he has abandoned European morality and set himself up as a god-like ruler over the natives. Kurtz, once a man of great promise, has succumbed to the primal instincts within him, indulging in violence and savagery. As Kurtz lies dying, he mutters his famous last words: “The horror! The horror!”, possibly reflecting his realization of the darkness within himself and humanity.
Marlow eventually returns to Europe, disturbed by what he has seen. He visits Kurtz’s fiancée and chooses to hide the truth, telling her that Kurtz’s last words were her name rather than his haunting declaration
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